Home – Home – Jornals – "Philosophy of Education" 2011 number 6

There is discussed a question in what sense it is possible to ascribe the status of existence to the society. One possible interpretation of the concept of the social is presented. It is shown that this concept in the processes of social cognition occupies a place which is similar to the place, occupied by the notion of matter in the natural-scientific world picture.  The opinions about the death of society, being present in the contemporary sociology, testify to poor understanding of the scopes of philosophy and science. The necessity of forming a scientific picture of the social world is substantiated, and the ways of such formation is presented.